White Constructions Pty Ltd v PBS Holdings Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1166

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: White Constructions Pty Ltd v PBS Holdings Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1166 Hearing dates: 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29 July 2019 Decision date: 06 September 2019 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Hammerschlag J Decision: Proceedings dismissed Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION LAW – CONTRACT – DAMAGES – Contract to design a sewerage system for a subdivision and submit it for approval – alleged breach consisting of failure to create and submit a design acceptable to the approval authority allegedly having the effect of delaying completion of the subdivision – whether breach established – whether damages established – programming experts called on question of delay – appropriate method of delay analysis – requirement to have regard to evidence – requirement for the plaintiff to establish damages. HELD – no breach established – damages not established. Legislation Cited: Sydney Water Act 1994 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adhesives Pty Ltd v Aktieselskabet Dansk Gaerings-Industri (1935) 55 CLR 523 Alstom Ltd v Yokogawa Pty Ltd (no 7) [2012] SASC 49 Donau Pty Ltd v ASC AWD Shipbuilder Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 185 JLW (Vic) Pty Ltd v Tsiloglou [1994] 1 VR 237 March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 Placer (Granny Smith) Pty Ltd v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd (2003) 77 ALJR 768 State of New South Wales v Moss (2000) 54 NSWLR 536 Troulis v Vamvoukakis [1998] NSWCA 237 Texts Cited: NSW Civil Procedure Handbook 2019 Category: Principal judgment Parties: White Constructions Pty Ltd - Plaintiff PBS Holdings Pty Ltd - First Defendant Illawarra Water & Sewer Design Pty Ltd - Second Defendant Representation: Counsel: M. Dempsey SC with M. Sheldon - Plaintiff G. Sirtes SC with D. Weinberger - First and Second Defendants